As USC and UCLA put together to play their remaining years within the Pac-12, the 2023 season marks the start of a season of change. The league in its present format goes out with a bang, nevertheless, with half the league pushing for nationwide acclaim in a extremely aggressive upcoming season.
For the primary time since Matt Leinart in 2005, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner will play within the Pac-12 as USC.quarterback Caleb Williams returns for yet another season with coach Lincoln Riley. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nox additionally opted to show down NFL alternatives to push for a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth. This is perhaps the most effective model of the Pac-12 we have now seen in years.
5 groups — almost half the league — boast +650 or higher odds to win the Pac-12 in 2023, that means each observe and each improvement in March and April issues. Right here is one query each staff within the Pac-12 should reply in spring camp.
Can transfers repair the run protection? Arizona’s run protection was so dangerous final season that its 209.1 yards per sport allowed have been greater than what Kansas State averaged offensively en path to a Huge 12 title — and Ok-State was a top-15 speeding offense. Giving up 354 speeding yards to Cal, a college that posted 805 speeding yards complete in its different 11 video games mixed, marked the low level for Arizona.
Wildcats coach Jedd Fisch was much more focused within the portal this season, taking solely 5 gamers. Nevertheless, all 5 have been both linebackers or inside defensive lineman. Oregon switch Justin Flowe was one of many nation’s elite recruits and carried out properly for the Geese. Invoice Norton involves Tucson by means of Georgia.
The Wildcats performed solely two true linebackers final season, so the three switch portal additions are a significant funding within the place. Competitors needs to be significantly better than one yr in the past.
Can the Solar Devils construct an offensive line? Arizona State misplaced three starters alongside the O-line after the 2022 season, not counting the departure of star guard LaDarius Henderson to Michigan following an harm. All the inside line needs to be rebuilt from scratch. The Solar Devils added a handful of key transfers within the portal, however took an early hit after Ben Coleman – a 16-game starter for Cal – suffered a significant harm in spring camp. Redshirt Joey Ramos appears poised to lock down one guard spot, however the different is now totally up within the air after Coleman’s harm.
Arizona State ranked No. 90 in speeding offense and No. 80 in sacks allowed final season, a central a part of the disappointing 3-9 marketing campaign. With operating again Xazavian Valladay off to the NFL, the Solar Devils want to search out methods to generate a push.
Is OC Jake Spavital lastly the reply? For six years at Cal, offense has been an unsolvable equation for coach Justin Wilcox. The Golden Bears have not completed increased than seventy fifth in complete offense because the program fired Sonny Dykes following the 2016 season.
Paradoxically, Jake Spavital was the coordinator on that 2016 staff that completed prime 10 in complete offense. After being fired at Texas State, Spavital has returned to Berkeley to repair the offense. Spavital is thought for his success with quarterbacks, serving to develop the likes of Will Grier, Case Keenum and Geno Smith, amongst others. He shortly recognized his subsequent protégé by including Sam Jackson as a switch from TCU.
Along with Spavital, Cal has created a powerful consortium of offensive coaches at Cal. Offensive line coach Mike Bloesch ran the offense at North Texas. Tight ends coach Tim Plough, 37, is an up-and-comer who starred calling the offense at UC Davis however tanked at Boise State. The combo of younger views will give Cal a contemporary, new look.
The place is the roster precisely? Frankly, the whole lot about Colorado is a query. Forty-four new gamers are coming to Boulder in 2023, and likelihood is much more might be on the best way in the course of the subsequent switch window. Shedeur Sanders will play quarterback and Travis Hunter will begin at nook. After that, it is anybody’s guess.
Coaches have tried to flip rosters earlier than, however by no means like this. The Buffaloes have simply two bowl appearances up to now 15 years and are tearing the roster to the studs proper from the beginning. Sanders dealt with the transition at Jackson State, however succeeding within the Pac-12 takes one other degree. By the point spring observe ends, Sanders ought to have a powerful thought of the true state of the roster. That also provides him one other alternative within the second switch window to fill holes.
Oregon
Can the Geese deal with offensive line turnover? Offensive line play took middle stage throughout Dan Lanning’s first season. The Geese settled in because the No. 6 offense within the nation at greater than 500 yards per sport and 5.5 yards per carry. After the sturdy debut, although, the Geese are rebuilding in each means on the offensive line.
Star middle Alex Forsyth leads 4 starters off to the NFL, together with each tackles. Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm additionally left for the New England Patriots, and Lanning elevated former Geese grad assistant A’lique Terry to his first foray into the Energy 5 as a full-time place coach.
Oregon has recruited the offensive line place exceptionally in each the highschool and switch markets. Marcus Harper II made 10 begins at left guard and will lock down the place. Steven Jones was the Week 1 starter at left guard earlier than struggling an harm, whereas longtime Texas starter Junior Angilau ought to lock down a beginning spot someplace. Sort out is a bit more sophisticated, however elite recruit Josh Conerly and Rhode Island switch Ajani Cornelius headline what needs to be a loaded battle for the place.
How shortly can DJ Uiagalelei get snug? The Bellflower, California, product rated because the No. 1 pro-style passer within the 2020 Top247 and the No. 2 general participant, solely behind Bryce Younger. His composite rating ranks No. 206 all time, increased than any participant in Oregon State historical past. After two inconsistent seasons beginning at Clemson, he’s Oregon State’s latest venture.
Uiagalelei improved in his second season as a starter, finishing 62% of his passes for two,521 yards and 22 touchdowns. Nevertheless, his end to the season was underwhelming after he accomplished simply 8 of 29 passes for 99 yards in a loss to South Carolina. His footwork and reads by no means acquired to the extent they wanted to comply with the Clemson quarterback lineage.
Oregon State had a dynamic protection final season, together with top-of-the-line younger operating backs within the nation in Texan Damien Martinez. The Beavers have been so good prime to backside that they beat rival Oregon with 60 yards passing and two interceptions on the quarterback place. If Uiagalelei can play to his huge potential, the Beavers are reliable Pac-12 title contenders.
Do the Cardinal have a beginning QB on the roster? Whereas Stanford dipped over the ultimate few years of the David Shaw period, quarterback remained a supply of delight for this system. Tanner McKee emerged as a reliable NFL quarterback over the previous two years. Davis Mills and Kevin Hogan additionally developed into draft picks.
Nevertheless, after McKee’s departure, there isn’t any apparent substitute ready within the wings. Junior Ari Patu has thrown 25 passes as a backup, however no main motion. Ashton Daniels earned a number of snaps as a real freshman. Neither has the recruiting pedigree to demand the job.
Troy Taylor rode a two-quarterback system of Asher O’Hara and Jake Dunniway to a 12-1 report at Sacramento State to earn the Stanford job. He’ll shortly have to search out these items to find his identification in Palo Alto.
UCLA
What’s the line of succession at QB? Calling Dorian Thompson-Robinson a mainstay of the Chip Kelly period is an understatement. DTR threw greater than 1,300 passes for Kelly throughout a five-year profession, however now leaves the beginning job vacant after departing for the NFL. In contrast to many different applications, the Bruins have various totally different visions they might comply with for the place.
The early favourite needs to be the switch, Kent State‘s Collin Schlee, who posted greater than 2,500 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Golden Flashes in 2022. Nevertheless, Ethan Garbers was within the system final season and has a powerful recruiting pedigree of his personal. Throwing a wrench into the whole lot is Dante Moore, the second-best recruit in program historical past and unquestioned way forward for this system.
Getting this reply proper is not simply concerning the 2023 season, it is concerning the imaginative and prescient of the longer term. Schlee gives a one-year stopgap, however Garbers can have his say. Moore might be proficient sufficient that he’s unattainable to maintain off the sphere. It is a query that may maintain Chip Kelly up at evening.
USC
Does Alex Grinch have a plan for the protection? Lincoln Riley introduced speedy success and a Heisman Trophy to USC in his first season. Sadly, the protection additionally got here from Norman because the Trojans completed backside 10 nationally in yards per play. The one defenses that ranked decrease within the Energy 5 have been Stanford, Arizona, Vanderbilt and Colorado – not precisely an esteemed group.
As a substitute of creating a change, Riley opted to deliver again defensive coordinator Alex Grinch for one more season. His job can be extra sophisticated in 2023 because the Trojans lose arguably their prime two gamers, defensive finish Tuli Tuipulotu and defensive again Mekhi Blackmon.
The Trojans added one other sturdy switch class to bolster the depth, together with six members on protection. Former elite prospects Domani Jackson, Korey Foreman and Anthony Lucas needs to be able to develop into larger roles. Nevertheless, this looks like a real final likelihood for Grinch.
Can the Utes solidify the secondary? Solely two of Utah’s 5 starters within the secondary are gone, however the pairing — cornerback Clark Phillips III and R.J. Hubert — represented almost 70 video games performed and greater than 40 begins. Add the transferring Clayton Isbell‘s 150 profession begins and Utah has a number of necessary holes to fill.
Zemaiah Vaughn stepped into the beginning lineup for the bowl sport with blended outcomes, recording a penalty and giving up a 20-yard reception on two targets. Nonetheless, Vaughn is the early chief to nab one of many spots. Ole Miss switch Miles Battle will even compete.
Conversely, no returner on the roster performed greater than 20 snaps at free security in 2023. Bleu Stewart and Bryson Reeves appear to suit the physique kind Utah covets at free security, whereas sturdy security reserve Sione Vaki may additionally make the change.
Washington
Can the Huskies broaden their operating sport? Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. helped rework Washington’s offense into one of many nation’s most improved models with the No. 1 passing offense. However for all the joy about Penix’s play, Washington was wildly unbalanced offensively, passing on almost two-thirds of all performs.
Passing is within the DNA of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, whose Fresno State offenses completed backside 40 in speeding in each of his seasons. Nevertheless, the dearth of efficient run sport hamstrung the Huskies at occasions, particularly throughout a loss to UCLA the place the staff ran for simply 65 yards.
Coach Kalen DeBoer prioritized operating again within the portal, including Mississippi State switch Dillon Johnson and Arizona State switch Daniyel Ngata. The Huskies even have a number of little-used underclassmen that would compete for snaps, together with Nebraska switch Will Nixon and New Mexico switch Aaron Dumas. The items are there to ease Penix’s burden.
Can new OC maintain Cam Ward’s improvement on observe? Former offensive coordinator Eric Morris introduced quarterback Cameron Ward with him from Incarnate Phrase to Pullman. After leaving to take the top teaching job at North Texas, Dickert prioritized Ward’s improvement as soon as extra, hiring Western Kentucky assistant Ben Arbuckle to the identical place.
Ward’s first season on the Energy 5 degree was encouraging as he accomplished 64.4% of passes for 3,231 yards and 23 touchdowns. He nearly single handedly beat Oregon with 375 yards and two touchdowns earlier than making a number of late errors. After points early, he didn’t throw an interception in his remaining 5 video games.
Arbuckle coached Division II switch Austin Reed to main the nation in passing yards, edging out Michael Penix Jr. and Heisman winner Caleb Williams. Ward ought to thrive below Arbuckle’s mentorship.